HAMPTON, Va. – Penn Softball opened the 2022 season at the Battle of the Bay tournament at Hampton University on Friday afternoon. The Quakers used a three-run first inning in game one to excel to a 12-3 game one victory over the host Hampton Pirates. The second game was very different as Penn was shut out for the first six innings of a 4-1 loss to Youngstown State. 
 
Penn opens the season 1-1. 
 
Game 1 – Penn 12, Hampton 3
Penn jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Sarah Schneider led off with a base hit to right. Julia Schneider got on base on an error by the third baseman. Both Schneider's advanced on a passed ball that was then thrown into the outfield and an error by the left fielder allowed them both to score. Julia Mortimer came around to score from second on a base hit down the line off the bat of Bella Fiorentino. 
 
The bottom of the first began just as the top half did with a lead off single. After a stolen base, Mo'ne Davis laid down a bunt and on a throwing error by the Quakers catcher, the Pirates base runner came around to score their first run of the game. 
 
S. Schneider scored the fourth Quaker run in the top of the second on a base hit off the bat of J. Schneider. 
 
Julia Longo worked around a bases loaded one out situation forcing a liner to second and a foul out to first. J. Schneider made a nice grab in front of the Penn dugout for the final out of the inning. 
 
Penn erupted for four runs in the top of the fourth inning as Ashley Waco led off the inning with a triple to right field. Corrie Phillips put Penn up 5-0 as she grounded out to shortstop as Waco scored. After a base hit and a walk, Mortimer sent a base hit to right field to J. Schneider from second as Emma Nedley advanced to third. Mortimer and Nedley would pull off a double steal putting Penn up 7-1. Mortimer scored on a base hit to right off the bat of Fiorentino. 
 
Hampton tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI base hit from their catcher. 
 
Dana Anderson came into pinch hit in the top of the fifth and promptly deposited one over the left field fence for her first round trip of her collegiate career. 
 
Penn put the game away as it added three more runs in the top of the seventh. S. Schneider hit a two RBI double to left that scored both Waco and Laurel McKelvey. S. Schneider stole third and then came around to score her third run of the game on a throwing error by the Pirates catcher. 
 
Longo pitched six innings allowing three runs on eight hits, striking out four and walking three. Olivia Szewczyk came in in the seventh inning to shut the door facing just three batters. 
 
Game 2 – Youngstown State 4, Penn 1
The nightcap was a far different story as they were unable to push a run across the plate until the seventh inning. 
Youngstown State jumped out to an early lead. Fiorientino made the start in game two for Penn and got two quick outs then gave up a two-out solo shot to right. 
 
The Penguins tacked on a single run in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to take a 4-0 lead. 
 
While the bats did not go completely cold they were unable to do anything with the few hits they scattered across the first six innings. 
 
It was not until the designated visitors made a pitching change entering the seventh inning that they mustered up a scoring chance. Madison Bauerle hit a one-out base hit to right center to get things going in the bottom of the seventh. Back-to-back walks by Alyssa Pope and Brianna Brown loaded the bases with one out. S. Schneider followed suit as she also drew a walk to score Bauerle. Then out came the Youngstown State coach to make a pitching change and put his starter back in. She would get the necessary outs needed to get the win for her team as she struck out J. Schneider and forced Nedley to pop out to right field for the final out of the game. 
 
QUAKER NOTEMEAL

• Sarah Schneider led the Quakers with four hits on the day, three were doubles. Five additional Quakers tallied two hits on Friday. 
• Julia Longo picked up the win in game one as she went six innings giving up three runs on eight hits, striking out four and walking three. 
• S. Schneider and Julia Mortimer both were one-for-one on stolen base attempts as Penn was perfect on base paths on day one. 
• Dana Anderson hit her first collegiate homerun, a solo shot over the left field fence in game one. 

 
Penn returns to the diamond tomorrow at Norfolk State with its first game against Youngstown State at noon and then against host Norfolk State at 2 p.m. Their final game of the tournament will be at 10 a.m. on Sunday against Norfolk State. Penn will return to Philly on Sunday and prepare for its spring break trip to California beginning next Friday, March 4.